A piece of malware which specifically targets Mac users is making its way around the Internet and Apple's intending to do something about it. The company will put out a software update which will automatically find and remove the malicious application.

Mashable reports that the malware being addressed by Apple is a fake version of the popular MacDefender antivirus application. The malicious app, "also known as MacProtector and MacSecurity, warns a victim that his or her computer is infected and goes through a complex installation process for the rogue antivirus."

Once the malware is installed, it begins showing further infection warnings and attempts to convince a user to hand over his or her credit card number in exchange for security. In other words, it basically behaves like a digital mob boss who exchanges cash for protection from threats which didn't exist before he showed up.

Apple has posted instructions on how to remove the malicious application manually, but it also explains that an upcoming software update will take care of things automatically:

In the coming days, Apple will deliver a Mac OS X software update that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants.  The update will also help protect users by providing an explicit warning if they download this malware.  

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Rosa Golijan writes about tech here and there. She's obsessed with Twitter and loves to be liked on Facebook.